The history of Afghanistan is a bloody affair. A country coveted and fought over by powerful neighbours, ultimately disintegrating into tribal rivalry and butchery.

A thousand splendid suns is an outstanding read and within its descriptive storytelling we become acquainted with two very brave women; Mariam and Laila. Marian is forced into a marriage with a controlling and violent man Rasheed. When she fails to produce a longed for son and heir she is immediately discarded and forced to live a life of servitude confronted each day with a violent partner, in a country unable to recognize or accept the role and importance of women in its society.

When Laila enters this turbulent household, as an additional wife, she is forced to accept the tyrannical rule of Rasheed. Through all this pain Mariam and Laila form an unlikely friendship, a deep bond develops, and an outcome that is sad, happy and brutal in its execution.

A wonderful story,  a tough read and in its realism the reader has a glimpse of everyday life in a war-torn community. It ends with a message of hope, and the ultimate belief that love has the ability to conquer all.

When I read The Kite Runner about five years ago, I thought the experience was like watching a beautifully described train wreck. I could clearly see where the engine was going to leave the tracks, and then I could not look away as car after car piled up after it. Slam! Crash! Boom! Tragedy after calamity after indignity. Before I knew it, my reader’s heart was crushed and burning in the rubble.

 

Apparently this is a pattern with Hosseini’s books, because here I am again.

 

I would say, though, that this train wreck was even more exquisitely agonizing than the last one. I’m glad Hosseini’s not very prolific. My soul can’t take this kind of stomping on a regular basis.

Just finished reading this book and its absolutely amazing. It's a really beautiful touching story! 

- Lorsqu'on tue un homme, on vole une vie. On vole le droit de sa femme à un mari, on prive ses enfants de leur père. Lorsqu'on raconte un mensonge, on dépossède quelqu'un de son droit à la vérité. Lorsqu'on triche, on dérobe le droit d'un autre à l'équité. Tu comprends?

"C'est dur à admettre, avait-il ajouté, mais il vaut mieux être blessé par la vérité que réconforté par un mensonge."

Hassan a accusé le choc - perdre ce que l'on a connu est plus dur que d'en avoir toujours été privé.

"Rahim, un gamin qui se laisse marcher sur les pieds devient un homme incapable d'affronter la moindre épreuve."

 

"La vie ne vous accorde un bonheur aussi intense que lorsqu'elle s'apprête à vous retirer quelque chose."

DNF at 61% (Chapter 19)

I tried to like this book. I really did. In fact, throughout the first quarter of the book, I truly *did* enjoy it. Hosseini's not a bad writer, and his prose flourishes when describing the vibrance and culture of prewar Kabul. He captures childhood nostalgia so perfectly, and the relationship between young Amir and Hassan is heartbreaking and bittersweet.

But after the first time skip, this book failed to hold my attention. Amir is an absolutely miserable, deplorable character - not in an anti-hero way like Walter White, where I was just waiting for his inevitable downfall. I wanted Amir to shut up about how much he hates himself, go away forever, and stop letting bad things happen to good people. Unfortunately, he is *The Kite Runner*'s protagonist.

By the halfway mark, all the characters who brought charisma and interest to the story are dead (Hassan, Baba, Rahim Kahn) and I'm left with boring, useless, self-hating Amir. This is where I chose to quit the story. Also after the weird reveal that Amir and Hassan are half-brothers.

I understand why people like this book, but I can't bring myself to enjoy pointless torture porn like this. 2 stars for how much I enjoyed the first quarter of the book.